Acceler8 Your Future: Mateusz Chlebiej, Service Desk Team Leader

That refusal to stand still has carried him from the lecture halls of a computer science degree to the fast-moving corridors of the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One™ Team, where IT is every bit as mission-critical as aerodynamics.

When we first spoke to him, Matt was leading the Service Desk, a role that put him at the centre of communication and hardware for a team that cannot afford downtime. Since then, his journey has taken another turn. Within a single year at the team, he has moved from Desktop Analyst to Service Desk Team Leader and now Trackside IT Engineer, a progression that speaks to both his appetite for pressure and his drive to keep learning.

It’s not the kind of growth that happens by accident. For Matt, each role has been a chance to test himself against new challenges, to adapt quickly and continually push himself towards progress. The result is a career that has unfolded at the same pace as the sport he works in. And while his first interview focused on his job as the service desk team leader, we’ve caught up with him more recently to talk about his new role on the team and what this means for a career that refuses to slow down.

What makes working in IT at Aston Martin Aramco Formula One™ Team different from any other tech job you’ve had or could imagine having?

I’d say the opportunities. There are a lot of parts of my job that I love, but I think being within an F1® team, there are so many areas you can go into. So one day you are here in the factory, the next day you might be at track. And you can get to know and explore these different areas, whether it's software development, customer service, track support. I think that the possibility of switching very quickly, which I've experienced myself as well, is great.

What gets you out of bed in the morning?

What gets me out of bed in the morning is the feeling of achieving something. I want to achieve something that day. I hate a standstill. I always want to grow, I always want to have something happening around me.

What’s a key skill or mindset that has helped you thrive in such a fast-paced, high-stakes environment?

I think a key skill is being able to work under the pressure of this environment, but also being able to enjoy it. The pressure's huge at all times, so if you want to be able to work here and actually enjoy it and be effective, you need to be able to take that pressure on and manage yourself under it.

What’s been the biggest difference between supporting IT at the technology campus and supporting IT trackside on a race weekend? How does that pressure feel different when you’re at the track?

The biggest difference is the level of pressure. At the track, everything moves much faster and the stakes are higher. Any IT issue can have a direct impact on running the car and performance, so problems need to be identified and resolved immediately — there’s no room for delay.

At Circle8, we see coaching, training, and mentorship as key to career growth. Tell us about the importance any of these have played in helping you get here today.

Mentorship has personally been huge in my career. Managers, colleagues, family members, they’ve showed me how I can perform and what to do in certain situations. You learn something from everybody and whether that's time management, technical ability, it really helps you out and at that key point where you need it, you will pick it up and use it for your own work.

Our Total Talent Flow is about recognizing that todays perfect fit might evolve tomorrow. Have you experienced a time at Aston Martin Aramco Formula One™ Team when embracing change led to professional growth?

I think a time where embracing change led to an unexpected professional growth for me would be when I actually joined Aston Martin Aramco. I was in a bit of a different role, previously doing a bit of software development and a mix of different tasks. Joining Aston Martin back as a Desktop Analyst then leading up to team leader was quite unexpected.

Through support of my team leaders and the management team, I applied for a team leader role after only being on the team for about six months. I think they must have seen some talent in me, and I managed to secure the job and sort of progress through that and become who I am now. There was a lot of training, a lot of learning involved in the process.

Changing roles in rapid succession isn’t always seen as the traditional path, but your journey shows how momentum can fuel progress. What motivated you to take on each new challenge, and how has that pace of change shaped where you are today?

I’m motivated by learning and taking on new challenges, and the idea of joining Trackside IT was an opportunity to push myself out of my comfort zone and pursue something I had been aiming for. Each role I’ve taken on has helped me develop new skills and gain a broader understanding of how IT supports the team. Moving quickly between roles has taught me to adapt rapidly, take on new responsibilities, and thrive in fast-paced environments, shaping me into someone ready to take on new opportunities with confidence.

In fast-paced environments like F1®, HR doesn’t always get credit. But, where have you seen them make a real impact on your career or team?

As a team leader, I worked really closely with HR. And HR works very closely with Circle8, making sure that the skills are there and any training that's needed is completed.

I recently had to hire two new individuals, and HR have been a huge help in finding the correct people and making sure that the people that are put in front of me are actually who I'm looking for and I think can benefit our team. So HR is key for our success as well.

How was it working with them from the other side this time, supporting you in your own career move?

Working with HR was a positive and straightforward experience. They provided clear guidance throughout the process and ensured the transition was handled efficiently and professionally.

Can you share an example of how teamwork has helped overcome a challenge within your IT role at Aston Martin Aramco Formula One™ Team?

I think a great example of our team overcoming a challenge would be the fact that we’re a small team that actually supports a lot of users every day. So when requests come in, where overnight we might have to switch over 30 desks, or deploy a lot of software for 30 users because it's needed tomorrow, we really need that team to come together. All of us need to work on our bit and make sure that gets achieved. So that's very key for us in the business to make sure that we can all collaborate and work well together.

What advice would you give to aspiring IT professionals looking to work for a high-performance team like Aston Martin Aramco Formula One™ and a sport like F1®?

I think the advice I would give is try and get yourself out there. Anything from a little placement scheme or volunteering or an apprenticeship in a team puts your foot in the door. From my experience, I started off in a placement in a Formula One® team and now I'm here. Once you're in the business it's very hard to leave it. There's nothing else like it. So you will be staying — just make sure you get your foot in the door and you get that initial contact.